Improvement in broom-corn-sizing machines



A. wALaATH. ABroom-Corn Sizing-Mchine.

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ALPHONSO VALRATH, OF FORT PLAIN, ASSIGNOR TO E. D, BRONSON & CO.,

on AMSTERDAM, NEW Yonx.

IMPROVEMENT IN BROIVI-CORNSIZING MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 165,458, dated July1.3, 1875*; application filed April it, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALPHONSO VVALRATH,

drawings making a part of this specification,

and to the letters and 1i gui-es of reference marked thereon.

Figure l of the drawings is a representation of a plan View of mymachine, and Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. detail view. Y

This invention has relation to improvements Fig. 3 is a sectional inmachines for sizing broom-corn. The object of the invention is to devisea means whereby broourcorn may be cheaply and expeditiously separatedinto lengths suited to the manufacture of the varioussizes of bro'omsand whisks known to the trade. To this end the nature of the inventionconsists in the employment of a series of spurred carrying anddistributing belts, of different lengths, except the outer ones, whichare of the same length, supported by guide-strips, in combination with abin divided into several compartments; and it further consists intheemploynient of spurred feeding-wheels, in combination withspringtingers, a supporting-plate, anda cutter, as will be hereinaftermore fully set forth.

l In the annexed drawings, A designates a rectangular box, which is openat one side,

and is divided, by means of partitions a, into a number of bilis, b.This box supports a' preferably-inclined frame, B, which affordsbearings for a number of spaced rotating shafts, C G1 C2 C3, upon whichare keyed pulley-Wheels c c1 c2 c3, carrying endless belts D D1 D2 D3,having teeth d, as shown in Fig. 2, for a purpose hereinafter explained.These shafts are mounted in frame B, just over, and, preferably,slightly in front of, the partitionwalls of each successive bin. ShaftO, as shown in Fig. 41, has two pulley-wheels, c, shaft C1 a single one,as has also shaft C2, while the shaft C3 at the feeding end of themachine has four. The outer or lateral Wheels c c and c3 c2 on the shaftG and C3 sustain and carry endless Vbelts D D3, while the intermediatepulleys 03 ou shaft C3 and the pulleys ,c1 02 on shafts G1 G2 sustainthe intermediate belts Dl D2, which latter are each shorter than belts DD3, and theV belt D2 shorter than the belt D1. it i2 'i3 i4 designatelongitudinal strips arranged at a suitable distance apart causing theshaft C3 to be operated the longest straws will be carried, by teeth don belts D D3, along strips t' i4 to the last bin, into 'which they willfall, and the shorter lengths having been previously distributed bymeans of the strips above described, into their appropriate bins. Motionis given to the `endless belts D D1 D2 D3 through the medium of anendless belt, E, a pulley, F, on the end of the shaft G3, and amainactuating cone-pulley, F, and the latter pulley being of greaterdiameter than the former a very rapid motion of the carrierbelts will beobtained with a corresponding rapid distribution into their appropriatebins of the various sizes or lengths of broom-corn.

With a view of guiding the spears of corn so that they will fall intothe appropriate bins, and not lodge upon the partition between the saidbins, l make nse'ot' guide-strips jj1j2j3, arrangedat the end, and inthe continuation of strips z', fil, t2, and 3, asufficient space beingleft between them to allow the spears of corn to fall through.

Gr represents an inclined platform rigidly secured at the feeding end ofthe machine, and provided with a metallic springV guidingplate, G', ofsuch length that when it is secured in position it shall extend fromstrip i on one side of the box to a point slightly beyond strip i3,- andH H represent two studded wheels secured upon a suitable shaft at oneside of the box, and extending through plat-l UNTTED STATES PATENTGEEIoE.

form G upward on a level with the plate G. Between these wheels, andrigidly secured to platform G, is arranged a spring-linger, g, which iscurved concentrically to the peripheries ofthe said wheels, and extendsdownward below platform G nearly to belt D3. This finger is overhung bya second vspringnger, gf, sustained by means of a shank, h, on a post orupright at one side of the frame. Rotation is given to studded wheels HH' by means of a trundle or lantern wheel, I, keyed upon a shaft, l,through the medium of a pulley, l', on the other end of the said shaft,an endless belt, m, and a step conepulley, F. When the latter isactuated by any suitable motor the carrier-belts-and studded wheels H Hwill receive simultaneous movement, and they are-used in the followingmanner, to wit: The operator, standing at the end of the box, places thebroom-corn across and in Contact with the wheels H H', between fingers ggf, when it is immediately seized by the studs or teeth of the saidwheels, and is carried over ,them to a point within reach ot the teeth dof the carrier-belts, thecorn being accurately guided to said belts bythe downward continuation of finger g and a number of preferably elasticstrips ot' wood or metal, o, connecting platform G and strips 1 2 3.While the corn is being carried over wheels H H the upper spring-ngerwill hold it in contact with their teeth, and the 'lower linger lwillprevent the corn from being bent or broken by the action of the. upperone. Guideplates G will hold the corn in a horizontal position, and willcause it to be delivered to the carrier-belts in a position transverseto their length, so that the spears will be allowed Shaft n is caused torotate, imparting movel ment to the cutting-blade J, by means ot' apulley, r, on its end, and an endless belt, t, passing around thecone-pulley F', which also actuates simultaneously feeding-wheels H Eland endless carrier-belts D Dl D2 D3.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. rEhe spurred and distributing belts D Dl D2 D3, of different lengths,except the outer belts D D3, which are of the same length, and theguide-strips l 2 3 4, in combination with the bin, divided into severalcompartments, substantially as described.

2. The spurred feeding-wheels H H', in combination with thespring-fingers g g', supporting-plate G', and cutter J, substantially asspecified.

. In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

I ALPI-10N SO VALRATH.

Witnesses:

JAMES GENTER, ERVIN PHILLrrs.

l m r ne

